Alfred D. Herger
Encyclopedia
Alfredo Domingo Herger is a famous former Puerto Rican
television show host and a psychologist. He has been labeled the Ed Sullivan
of Puerto Rico
in local media, due to his strong influence in Puerto Rican pop culture and his success as a television presenter.
and was raised in San Juan
. As early as in 1958, while he was a teenager, he would provide local newspaper "El Mundo" with hit rankings of the most popular songs among San Juan youth. He would eventually become a radio disc jockey, renowned for his sense of humor and affable character.
music revolution of the 1960s in Puerto Rico. He became very famous across Puerto Rico with his daily television shows, which lasted until the late 1970s. He helped the careers of many young singers of the time, such as, Chucho Avellanet
, Lucecita Benítez
, Sonia Noemí
, Ednita Nazario
, Lou Briel
(Anexo 3), Zeny & Zory
, Carmita Jiménez
, The Night Walkers
, and others. He was also responsible for bringing in to Puerto Rico various visiting artists, including Tony Croatto
(with his sister Nelly) and "Luisito Rey", the father of Latin American pop sensation Luis Miguel, who was born in Puerto Rico and for whom Herger was his godfather
.
Herger became a popular radio host during the mid- to late 1970s.
It was in the early 1970s that he befriended future Menudo
creator Edgardo Díaz
, who was working in Spain as manager of La Pandilla
. Diaz contacted Herger about having La Pandilla go to Puerto Rico to make some recordings and be shown at Herger's show, and Herger accepted. Herger became such a large propulsor of that group in Puerto Rico that he garnered the nickname The biggest Pandillero becoming their agent and producing a series of sold-out concerts in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He also created a TV series with them and filmed two movies: "Operacion Alacran" and "La Pandilla en Apuros".
Later on in 1980, Herger produced and hosted a game show, La Pirámide, complete with an Egypt
ian-themed set and imagery, tons of bad pyramid pun
s and jokes in the program's scripts, and his entire family involved in the show. Herger's oldest son Alfredo and daughter Grace Marie went on to be successful teen show hosts in Puerto Rico, more notably with WAPA-TV
's show Party Time. They were both renowned for their stunning good looks, which allowed Grace Marie to become a part-time model and Alfredo to attempt luck as a solo singer.
after the murder of one of his children (1994), Benny. Benny was a minor player on "La Pirámide", and later attenden Purdue University in Indiana. Visiting Puerto Rico during one of his winter breaks he was carjacked
and shot dead. Herger was deeply affected by his son's death but his inner search for sense from the whole experience gave him enough motivation to revive his interest in psychology, and eventually completing a Master's degree and a Doctor of Philosophy
degree. His constant interest in youth themes made him popular as a youth counselor.
Grace Marie's first husband, physician Pedro Gracia Jr., suddenly died from an allergic reaction
to shrimp
at a dinner honoring him. This led some Puerto Ricans to believe that the Hergers were somehow cursed, in a way similar to that of the Kennedy Curse
(some even blamed their stint producing "La Pirámide" and their irreverent treatment of Egyptian themes for their bad luck). Dismissing this as nonsense, Herger went on to produce self-help radio programs in which he was the host. He has since written four best selling books on self help psychology since. Herger still exercises his profession as a psychologist at a private office in San Juan
.
Herger was honored by the Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular, which recognizes important figures of popular culture in Puerto Rico on August 13, 2008.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
television show host and a psychologist. He has been labeled the Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan
Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
in local media, due to his strong influence in Puerto Rican pop culture and his success as a television presenter.
Early life
Herger, of Spanish and German ancestry, was born in AreciboArecibo, Puerto Rico
Arecibo is a municipality in the northern midwest coast of Puerto Rico and located by the Atlantic Ocean, north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta, and Florida. Arecibo is spread over 18 wards and Arecibo Pueblo...
and was raised in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. As early as in 1958, while he was a teenager, he would provide local newspaper "El Mundo" with hit rankings of the most popular songs among San Juan youth. He would eventually become a radio disc jockey, renowned for his sense of humor and affable character.
Establishing Nueva Ola
Herger was the originator and leader of the Nueva OlaNueva ola
The Nueva ola is a term applied to a loose group of musicians, mainly in Spanish speaking South America, who played and introduced rock and roll and other American and European music of the 50s and 60s to their countries. Artist associated with the Nueva ola reached their peak of popularity in the...
music revolution of the 1960s in Puerto Rico. He became very famous across Puerto Rico with his daily television shows, which lasted until the late 1970s. He helped the careers of many young singers of the time, such as, Chucho Avellanet
Chucho Avellanet
Armando Hipólito Avellanet González , nicknamed "Chucho" is a Puerto Rican singer and comedic actor...
, Lucecita Benítez
Lucecita Benítez
Luz Esther Benítez , better known in the music world as Lucecita, is a Puerto Rican singer.-Biography:Lucecita was a member of what is historically known in Puerto Rico as the New Wave, or Nueva Ola of popular music, created by Alfred D. Herger, alongside Lissette and Chucho Avellanet, among others...
, Sonia Noemí
Sonia Noemí
Sonia Noemi, "Sonia Noemí González" July 14, 1941, born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, is an actress and singer, who is one of the pioneers of Puerto Rican television.-Early years:...
, Ednita Nazario
Ednita Nazario
Ednita Nazario is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter who has achieved stardom both at home and abroad. She has been in the music business from a young age, and has released over twenty albums throughout her career....
, Lou Briel
Lou Briel
Lou Briel, is a Puerto Rican singer, composer, comedian, producer, pianist, and host, among other things.-Early Years with Anexo 3:...
(Anexo 3), Zeny & Zory
Zeny & Zory
Zeny y Zory , Las gemelas Beveraggi, , are identical twins and have performed as a pop-music duet since the age of 15. Zeny is currently managing her daughter, Sol Carbone, create her first music album.- Early years:The twins were born in Santurce, Puerto Rico)...
, Carmita Jiménez
Carmita Jiménez
Carmita Jiménez was a Puerto Rican singer who was considered a diva in Puerto Rico. She was born in San Lorenzo....
, The Night Walkers
The Night Walkers
The Night Walkers were a Puerto Rican rock band during the 1960s and 1970s, and were part of the Nueva Ola scene. Originally from Mayaguez, they were discovered by music impresario Alfred D. Herger...
, and others. He was also responsible for bringing in to Puerto Rico various visiting artists, including Tony Croatto
Tony Croatto
Hermes Davide Fastino Croatto Martinis, better known as Tony Croatto was an Italian singer and composer best known for his interpretations of Puerto Rican folk music. He was also a television presenter.-Biography:Born in Attimis, a comune in the province of Udine, Italy...
(with his sister Nelly) and "Luisito Rey", the father of Latin American pop sensation Luis Miguel, who was born in Puerto Rico and for whom Herger was his godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
.
Herger became a popular radio host during the mid- to late 1970s.
It was in the early 1970s that he befriended future Menudo
Menudo (band)
Menudo was a Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in the 1970s by producer Edgardo Díaz, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era....
creator Edgardo Díaz
Edgardo Díaz
Edgardo Díaz born in Panama City, Panama, is the creator of the "boy band" Menudo. The son of Puerto Ricans, Díaz grew up in Caguas, Puerto Rico....
, who was working in Spain as manager of La Pandilla
La Pandilla
La Pandilla was a teen music group of the 1970s. La Pandilla, founded in 1970 by Pepa Aguirre. The group had members of both sexes, unlike most pop music bands....
. Diaz contacted Herger about having La Pandilla go to Puerto Rico to make some recordings and be shown at Herger's show, and Herger accepted. Herger became such a large propulsor of that group in Puerto Rico that he garnered the nickname The biggest Pandillero becoming their agent and producing a series of sold-out concerts in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He also created a TV series with them and filmed two movies: "Operacion Alacran" and "La Pandilla en Apuros".
Later on in 1980, Herger produced and hosted a game show, La Pirámide, complete with an Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian-themed set and imagery, tons of bad pyramid pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
s and jokes in the program's scripts, and his entire family involved in the show. Herger's oldest son Alfredo and daughter Grace Marie went on to be successful teen show hosts in Puerto Rico, more notably with WAPA-TV
WAPA-TV
WAPA-TV is an independent television station located in San Juan, Puerto Rico transmitting over digital channel 27, virtual channel 4. The station is owned by InterMedia Partners and is branded as WAPA Television....
's show Party Time. They were both renowned for their stunning good looks, which allowed Grace Marie to become a part-time model and Alfredo to attempt luck as a solo singer.
New career as a psychologist
Herger retired from radio and television to dedicate himself fully to his career as a psychologist during the early 1980s due to his personal experience rebounding from depressionClinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
after the murder of one of his children (1994), Benny. Benny was a minor player on "La Pirámide", and later attenden Purdue University in Indiana. Visiting Puerto Rico during one of his winter breaks he was carjacked
Carjacking
Carjacking is a form of hijacking, where the crime is of stealing a motor vehicle and so also armed assault when the vehicle is occupied. Historically, such as in the rash of semi-trailer truck hijackings during the 1960s, the general term hijacking was used for that type of vehicle abduction,...
and shot dead. Herger was deeply affected by his son's death but his inner search for sense from the whole experience gave him enough motivation to revive his interest in psychology, and eventually completing a Master's degree and a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree. His constant interest in youth themes made him popular as a youth counselor.
Grace Marie's first husband, physician Pedro Gracia Jr., suddenly died from an allergic reaction
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is defined as "a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death". It typically results in a number of symptoms including throat swelling, an itchy rash, and low blood pressure...
to shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
at a dinner honoring him. This led some Puerto Ricans to believe that the Hergers were somehow cursed, in a way similar to that of the Kennedy Curse
Kennedy Curse
The Kennedy tragedies, colloquially called the Kennedy Curse, is a term sometimes used to describe a series of tragedies involving members of the Kennedy family. Many of the tragedies have been caused by preventable reckless choices like driving drunk, piloting an airplane under unsafe conditions,...
(some even blamed their stint producing "La Pirámide" and their irreverent treatment of Egyptian themes for their bad luck). Dismissing this as nonsense, Herger went on to produce self-help radio programs in which he was the host. He has since written four best selling books on self help psychology since. Herger still exercises his profession as a psychologist at a private office in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
.
Herger was honored by the Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular, which recognizes important figures of popular culture in Puerto Rico on August 13, 2008.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- German immigration to Puerto RicoGerman immigration to Puerto RicoGerman immigration to Puerto Rico increased when German businessmen immigrated to Puerto Rico during the early part of the 19th century. However, it was the economic and political situation in Europe during the early 19th century plus, the fact that the Spanish Crown issued the Royal Decree of...
- Chucho AvellanetChucho AvellanetArmando Hipólito Avellanet González , nicknamed "Chucho" is a Puerto Rican singer and comedic actor...
- Sonia NoemíSonia NoemíSonia Noemi, "Sonia Noemí González" July 14, 1941, born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, is an actress and singer, who is one of the pioneers of Puerto Rican television.-Early years:...
- Zeny & ZoryZeny & ZoryZeny y Zory , Las gemelas Beveraggi, , are identical twins and have performed as a pop-music duet since the age of 15. Zeny is currently managing her daughter, Sol Carbone, create her first music album.- Early years:The twins were born in Santurce, Puerto Rico)...
- Lou BrielLou BrielLou Briel, is a Puerto Rican singer, composer, comedian, producer, pianist, and host, among other things.-Early Years with Anexo 3:...
- Lucecita BenítezLucecita BenítezLuz Esther Benítez , better known in the music world as Lucecita, is a Puerto Rican singer.-Biography:Lucecita was a member of what is historically known in Puerto Rico as the New Wave, or Nueva Ola of popular music, created by Alfred D. Herger, alongside Lissette and Chucho Avellanet, among others...
- Charlie Robles
- Carmita JiménezCarmita JiménezCarmita Jiménez was a Puerto Rican singer who was considered a diva in Puerto Rico. She was born in San Lorenzo....
- Paquito CorderoPaquito CorderoPaquito Cordero , was a comedian and television producer and also one of the pioneers of Puerto Rican television.-Early years:...
- Rafael Perez PerryRafael Perez PerryRafael Pérez Perry , was a businessman and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's radio and television broadcasting industry. He owned one of the most successful radio stations on the island and in 1954 founded Puerto Rico's television Channel 11, which now is known as Tele Once and owned and operated by...